What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?

The correct answer is Electric plane tested by NASA.

Greased Lightning-10, commonly abbreviated as GL-10, is an experimental electric-powered aircraft developed and tested by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Let us break down why this is the correct answer and understand what makes the GL-10 significant.

What is the GL-10?
The GL-10 "Greased Lightning" is a battery-powered, remote-controlled aircraft prototype designed and built by engineers at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia, USA. The name "Greased Lightning" is an American idiom meaning something incredibly fast, which reflects the aircraft's design ambitions.

Key Features of the GL-10:
The GL-10 is a tilt-rotor / hybrid aircraft, meaning it combines the best of two worlds — it can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, and then cruise horizontally like a fixed-wing airplane. Specifically:

• It has a 10-foot (approximately 3-meter) wingspan.
• It is powered by 10 electric motors — 8 on its wings and 2 on its tail.
• It uses lithium iron phosphate batteries as its power source, making it entirely electric with zero direct emissions.
• It can carry a payload of about 10 pounds (4.5 kg).
• During its transition from vertical takeoff to horizontal flight, the rotors tilt forward, allowing the wings to generate lift efficiently.

Why was it in the news?
The GL-10 gained significant media attention when NASA successfully demonstrated its ability to transition from vertical takeoff to horizontal cruise flight. This is one of the most challenging maneuvers for hybrid aircraft. NASA conducted multiple test flights, with the prototype achieving stable, efficient horizontal cruise after a vertical liftoff — a breakthrough moment for electric aviation technology. The GL-10 was part of NASA's broader initiative to advance green aviation and reduce the environmental footprint of air transport.

Why the other options are incorrect:
• Solar-powered two-seater aircraft designed by Japan — The GL-10 is neither solar-powered nor Japanese in origin.
• Space observatory launched by China — The GL-10 is an aircraft, not a space telescope or observatory, and it is a NASA project.
• Reusable rocket designed by ISRO — The GL-10 has nothing to do with rockets or the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Summary:
The GL-10 "Greased Lightning" is a landmark project in the field of electric aviation, demonstrating that electric-powered aircraft can successfully perform vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) as well as efficient horizontal cruise flight. It represents NASA's commitment to developing cleaner, quieter, and more fuel-efficient aircraft technologies for the future of aviation.